Internal hermetic lead connector for implantable device

Abstract

An implantable active medical device is disclosed and includes a hermetically sealed housing defining a sealed housing interior, a power source and electronics in electrical communication and disposed within the sealed housing interior, and a lead connector projecting into the sealed housing interior. The lead connector includes a closed end, an open end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a lead aperture. The lead connector includes one or more electrically conducting contact rings spaced apart by electrically insulating rings. The one or more electrically conducting contact rings are in electrical communication with the electronics and the lead connector provides a hermetic seal between the lead connector outer surface and the lead connector inner surface.

1. An implantable active medical device comprising;
 a hermetically sealed housing defining a sealed housing interior, the hermetically sealed housing having a first surface and an opposing second surface; 
 a power source and electronics in electrical communication and disposed within the sealed housing interior; and a lead connector projecting through the sealed housing interior having a closed end, an open end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a lead aperture, the lead connector comprising one or more electrically conducting contact rings spaced apart by electrically insulating rings and braze disposed between the one or more electrically conducting contact rings and the electrically insulating rings, the one or more electrically conducting contact rings in electrical communication with the electronics, and the lead connector providing a hermetic seal between the lead connector outer surface and the lead connector inner surface. 
 
   
   
     2. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead connector comprises a plurality of ring subassemblies fixed in axial alignment. 
   
   
     3. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein each ring subassembly comprises one of the electrically insulating rings fixed between one of the electrically conducting contact rings and an electrically conducting spacer ring. 
   
   
     4. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein each ring subassembly comprises one of the electrically insulating ring brazed between one of the electrically conducting contact rings and an electrically conducting spacer ring and a fluid seal material disposed on brazed joints within the ring subassembly. 
   
   
     5. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 2 , wherein each ring subassembly comprises one of the electrically insulating rings comprising a single crystal sapphire material fixed between one of the electrically conducting contact rings comprising titanium and an electrically conducting spacer ring comprising titanium. 
   
   
     6. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 3 , wherein the lead connector comprises a plurality of ring subassemblies fixed in axial alignment and a first ring subassembly electrically conducting contact ring is fixed to an adjacent second ring subassembly electrically conducting spacer ring. 
   
   
     7. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead connector comprises a plurality of ring subassemblies welded in axial alignment and a first ring subassembly electrically conducting contact ring is welded to an adjacent second ring subassembly electrically conducting spacer ring. 
   
   
     8. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead connector comprises a plurality of ring subassemblies welded in axial alignment and each ring subassembly has substantially similar dimensions. 
   
   
     9. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lead connector comprises a mounting flange adjacent to the open end and the mounting flange is fixed to the hermetically sealed housing. 
   
   
     10. An implantable active medical device comprising; a hermetically sealed housing defining a sealed housing interior; a power source and electronics in electrical communication and disposed within the sealed housing interior; and
 a lead connector projecting through the sealed housing interior having a closed end, an open end, an outer surface and an inner surface defining a lead aperture, the lead connector comprising a plurality of ring subassemblies fixed in axial alignment, each ring subassembly comprising an electrically insulating ring fixed between an electrically conducting contact ring and an electrically conducting spacer ring and braze disposed between the electrically insulating ring and the electrically conducting contact ring and the electrically insulating ring and the electrically conducting spacer ring, each electrically conducting contact ring in electrical communication with the electronics, and the lead connector providing a hermetic seal between the lead connector outer surface and the lead connector inner surface. 
 
   
   
     11. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 10 , wherein each ring subassembly comprises the electrically insulating ring brazed between the electrically conducting contact ring and the electrically conducting spacer ring and a fluid seal material disposed on brazed joints within the ring subassembly. 
   
   
     12. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 10 , wherein each ring subassembly comprises the electrically insulating ring comprising a single crystal sapphire material fixed between the electrically conducting contact ring comprising titanium and the electrically conducting spacer ring comprising titanium. 
   
   
     13. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 10 , wherein the lead connector comprises a first ring subassembly electrically conducting contact ring fixed to an adjacent second ring subassembly electrically conducting spacer ring. 
   
   
     14. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 10 , wherein the lead connector comprises a first ring subassembly electrically conducting contact ring welded to an adjacent second ring subassembly electrically conducting spacer ring. 
   
   
     15. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 10 , wherein the lead connector comprises a mounting flange adjacent to the open end and the mounting flange is fixed to the hermetically sealed housing. 
   
   
     16. An implantable active medical device comprising; a hermetically sealed housing defining a sealed housing interior; a power source and electronics in electrical communication and disposed within the sealed housing interior; and a lead connector projecting into the sealed housing interior and having a closed end, an open end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a lead aperture, the lead connector comprising a plurality of ring subassemblies fixed in axial alignment, each ring subassembly comprising an electrically insulating ring fixed between an electrically conducting contact ring and an electrically conducting spacer ring and braze disposed between the electrically insulating ring and the electrically conducting contact ring and the electrically insulating ring and the electrically conducting spacer ring and a helical annular coil disposed within and in electrical contact with the electrically conducting contact ring, each electrically conducting contact ring in electrical communication with the electronics, and the lead connector providing a hermetic seal between the lead connector outer surface and the lead connector inner surface. 
   
   
     17. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein each ring subassembly comprises the electrically insulating ring brazed between the electrically conducting contact ring and the electrically conducting spacer ring and a fluid seal material disposed on brazed joints within the ring subassembly. 
   
   
     18. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein the lead connector comprises a first ring subassembly electrically conducting contact ring fixed to an adjacent second ring subassembly electrically conducting spacer ring. 
   
   
     19. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein the lead connector comprises a first ring subassembly electrically conducting contact ring welded to an adjacent second ring subassembly electrically conducting spacer ring. 
   
   
     20. An implantable active medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein the lead connector comprises a mounting flange adjacent to the open end and the mounting flange is fixed to the hermetically sealed housing.